Isaiah 5:1-7 (NRSV)
Read Isaiah 5:1-7 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 5Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. Verse 2He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. Verse 3And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. Verse 4What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? Verse 5And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. Verse 6I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. Verse 7For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!
Devotion
Vineyards were important to the economy of ancient Israel. They still are, just as wheat, corn, soy beans and sugar beets are in America. This song probably was composed for the Festival of the Booths (late harvest). I remember harvest time on the farm as one of the happiest times in the year.
Isaiah compared Israel to a vineyard. Israel was God’s planting that he had rescued from slavery in Egypt. Like any farmer, God looked for a good harvest. “He expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.” He looked for justice and righteousness, but found the people running after the idols of greed and bloodshed. So the vineyard became a waste.
Jesus told his disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Prayer
Lord Jesus, cleanse our hearts of all that displeases you, and enable us to bearers of justice and righteousness. Amen.